MEPEACE Board Meeting - February 16, 2011

On 16^th February 2011, the MEPEACE board met in Jaffa to:
 

• Update: review on 2010 and look ahead to 2011

• Approve:  the non-profit's statements, activities and progress

• Brainstorm:  together look ahead to our future: 3-5 years
   

Please share your thoughts, ideas and suggestions in the comments below.

Here is the heart of our brainstorming (the document is attached here as well):
 

Eyal: Where do we want to see the Middle East 5 yrs from now? And where do we want to see MEPEACE 3-5 yrs from now?

David: My dream for MEPEACE – close down! No need for us!

Gershon: Maybe not. In 5 years will use MEPEACE to discuss culture, music….instead of politics.

My dream for the Middle East? A strong, stable, democratic Palestine next to a much more democratic Israel.

Vicki: Inspired by this month’s events, I dream of people making change, taking change into their own hands. MEPEACE can be a part of this, as Facebook has been integral to organising revolutions

Dalya: Take a train from Tel Aviv to Baghdad!

Freeman: Complete normalization with all the Arab states and Israel. End to military conscription. Technology is key. Through MEPEACE I met my first Arab and Palestinian friends, which wouldn’t have happened only online. Translation of literature between Arab and Israel states.

Bayan: Egypt shows we can free ourselves. It allows us to dream of the possibility. MEPEACE needs more exposure in Israel.

Eyal: An Israeli ambassador in all Arab countries. In the Knesset a clear voice that represents our dreams that sometimes we are afraid to voice. A clear Israeli voice. Israel officially taking responsibility for its history and its impact on Arab citizens and Palestinians. MEPEACE as a competitor for Facebook (Gershon – should be the 2^nd page people open in the morning!) 5 yrs from now, MEPEACE as an interconnected world.

Chaya: Every end is a beginning. Challenge once the revolutionary force fades to find an incentive to coming together post conflict. MEPEACE may be even more relevant then, needs to be as inclusive as possible.

Eyal: Movement. We want to mobilize a movement to win hearts and minds of people. How can we play a role in helping a movement, a new party develop??

Gershon: Numbers count! Need to get more people on the site, if we want to make a movement. Interconnectivity. To get more people involved, needs to be linked to other msn, facebook etc. eg. Share articles from newspaper – get option to share on MEPEACE.

Chaya: you mentioned a movement, are we political?

Eyal: we are not political, right, left, etc. but need to think of where we are going.

David: Unique about MEPEACE – a web presence. MEPEACE exists primarily through the website, which is a shame, because websites are old. Need presence on youtube, facebook and twitter. All MEPEACE events should be facebook events. Recently, orgs don’t even need their own website.

Mossi: Average Israeli spends 1 hour on the internet daily – 14 mins facebook, 7 mins ynet…. How long on MEPEACE?!

Eyal: For the purpose of…? So we have a stronger media presence. What then? Movement – what does that mean to you? Does MEPEACE have a role in creating a new movement?

Vicki: The question is do we want to remain open as platform for inclusive discussion, or head in a direction that we decide?

Eyal: two goals: empower individuals and orgs and mobilize. Do you want to see us support a movement? Do you want to see us out on the street supporting hasmol haleumi?

Vicki: Yes!

Dalya: lots of people are out supporting. MEPEACE should be a place for any peace-promoting agenda. Trying to create a movement out of MEPEACE doesn’t match.

Gershon: During the Egypt uprising, where did we get info? Not on MEPEACE. Many people go tinfo via Facebook pages – dynamic source of dialogue and information.

Lemuel: About turning into a political movement. If you build a community where people can share their own ideas, and then impose own agenda.... best for MEPEACE to promote the importance of political involvement, lobbying, how to influence… Left parties are disappearing. MEPEACE’s role can be to advise, encourage, inform about the options…

Gershon: MEPEACE is not just Israeli and cannot support an Israeli political party.

Chaya: Pluses of the online community – value to anonymity. Plenty of other orgs to be active in the street, open to ideas without commitment. When Eyal gives interviews – personal opinion or representing MEPEACE?? Be careful about how representing MEPEACE. General message - get politically involved.

Eyal: diversity, encouragement, anonymity – help people get out in the streets, but don’t tell them where to go.

David: We are a platform. Like Google, youtube… The only things we don’t do is racism, pornography, incitement. No political line.

Lemuel: More advertisement for political activism.

Mossi: If we want to compete with facebook – it is a tool. No agenda. Facebook was the main tool used in Egypt. This is MEPEACE’s contribution to the Israeli-palestinian conflict, enable people to communicate and organize. Don’t need to have a line.

Freeman: great tool, it’s happening right now, meeting, exchanging ideas. MEPEACE is more real than facebook, greater trust, part of a community.

Chaya: what if MEPEACE was expanded not just to peace issues, food, culture, music…? Share recipes, cultural attractions. To learn about each other in real life, not just politics. Upload videoblogs…

David: Social tourism, peace tourism… ‘trips to the other side’

Dalya: needs to be more organized

Chaya: Could be organized by professions?

David: there were groups of professionals meeting before the intifada, psychologists, lawyers, accountants etc…

Eyal: transparency is very important, so this conversation will be put up on the site for all to see. These ideas are what generate practical action. Now I want to ask you for practical actions?

Bayan: Does MEPEACE has to be completely apolitical? Maybe there should be a line, a goal.

Dalya: MEPEACE is about the rules of engagement, the process, not the outcome.

Eyal: My idea is to take some sort of political stand. We have an asset, energy we can direct in a certain direction. We may be able to contribute, to support new movements,

Vicki: MEPEACE can be open and should have input from political events, and organizations/ parties but should be open to all of them.